Marvel and DC take their rivalry to primetime television

Over the years, Marvel and DC have created characters that have become entrenched in pop culture. As the two dominant forces in the world of comics, there is a constant struggle to gain an edge, with each trying to one up the other.

The entertainment giants are in the midst of a cinematic battle, with both companies forming interconnected universes that breathe new life into the iconic heroes and villains that we are all familiar with. And while the competition to win over moviegoers rages on, Marvel and DC are focusing their attention on something new: primetime television.

The medium of television is nothing new to Marvel or DC; they have populated the airwaves with countless cartoon series over the years, most of which have been aimed at children on Saturday mornings (Do you remember those days? Good times, good times).

The difference now is that the shows are of the live-action variety and are geared toward attracting the whole family during the highly coveted primetime slots – and the networks are highly intrigued by the possibilities.

Yesterday, Variety reported that TNT and Warner Bros. are closing in on a deal for a “Titans” pilot, with Nightwing/Dick Grayson as the lead. Writers Akiva Goldsman (“Batman Forever”) and Marc Haimes (“The Last Word”) were brought on board as executive and co-executive producer, respectively.

“Titans” is just the latest in the ongoing trend of comic-based, live-action shows. CW’s “Arrow” and ABC’s “Agents of SHIELD” are currently enjoying success in primetime, drawing praise from critics and viewers alike.

This fall, DC will also roll out “Gotham” on FOX, “Constantine” on NBC and “The Flash” on CW. Marvel has announced plans for “Daredevil” and “Agent Carter” series some time in 2015.

It’s no coincidence that there is an influx of these live-action series at this current time. It coincides with the box office success, but some people have also proclaimed that we are in the “Golden Era” of television, due to character development, story creation and production value.

While all of those elements are critical for the success of a television series, the increased production value is probably the most important, especially in the superhero genre. The greater production budget can greatly contribute to the special effects, settings and overall spectacle that we are accustomed to when it comes to our superheroes and super villains.

It will be interesting to see if Marvel and DC will tie in the shows with future movies. “Agents of SHIELD” was able to do just that with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” It would be beneficial in drawing in more viewers and adding to the respective universes.

Regardless of what happens, superhero fans benefit from this ongoing clash of heavyweights. Are you looking forward to any of the aforementioned shows? If so, which show(s)?